SMETHPORT, PA – A surge in the fourth quarter, along with Madey McKean’s and Payton Neff’s combined 45 points, lifted the Smethport girl’s basketball team to a Senior Night win as they bested Union/A-C Valley 56-50.
In a back-and-forth slug fest, the Lady Hubbers found themselves on top at the half, but behind with one quarter to go. Staring down a one-point deficit entering the final eight minutes of play, Neff and McKean led the charge, scoring nine of Smethport’s final 15 points as they outscored the Lady Falcon Nights by seven to seal a win.
McKean led all scorers with 26 points, also coming away with eight rebounds, eight steals and three blocks while Neff, who hit five 3-pointers during the win, ended with 19 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.
With the win, the Lady Hubbers improve to 8-11, with their next contest scheduled for Wednesday against the North Tier League-leading Otto-Eldred Lady Terrors. That contest, which will be held in the Terror Dome, is slated for a 7:30 p.m. start.
AT SMETHPORT
Union/AC Valley (50)
Dehart 7 6-9 22, Hall 3 2-5 8, Kefir 3 0-0 7, Fletcher 3 0-0 6, Fair 2 0-0 5, Watson 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 8-16 50
Smethport (56)
McKean 11 2-2 26, Neff 7 0-2 19, Szuba 1 2-4 5, Ours 2 0-0 4, Tanner 1 0-0 2. Totals:
Union/AC Valley 8 25 42 50
Smethport 10 28 41 56
Three-point goals: UAC (4) Dehart 2, Fair, Kifer, SM (8) Neff 5, McKean 2, Szuba; Total fouls: UAC 16, SM 17; Fouled out: Fletcher (UAC), Tanner (SM)
Olean 46, Falconer 32
FALCONER, NY — Outscoring the Golden Falcons 30-12 in the second half, the Huskies picked up back-to-back wins as they improved to 5-10.
After finding themselves down four at the half, Olean began executing on both sides of the ball as they mustered up the start of a comeback. With their defense holding Falconer to just six points in each of the last two quarters, their offense was led by Alaina Hirliman, who knocked down five 3-pointers in the final 16 minutes to propel the Huskies in front.
Hirliman finished with a game-high 23 points, followed by Anna Bates with 13 and Ava Finch with five.
With three games left on the schedule, Olean will next return home for a contest against Southwestern on Thursday, before seeing Salamanca and Catt/Little Valley the following week on Monday and Wednesday.
AT FALCONER
Olean (46)
Hirliman 8 2-4 23, Bates 4 5-6 13, Finch 2 1-4 5, Lozynska 1 0-0 3, Bohdanowycz 0 2-2 2. Totals: 15 10-16 46
Falconer (32)
Bageia 6 0-3 12, Snow 3 2-5 8, Calimen 2 2-4 6, Howard 1 0-0 2, Helms 1 0-0 2, Smith 1 0-0 2. Totals: 14 4-12 32
Olean 8 16 32 46
Falconer 9 20 26 32
Three-point goals: OL (6) Hirliman 5, Lozynska, FC (0); Total fouls: OL 16, FC 20 Fouled out: None.
Men’s Basketball
Penn St. Altoona 97, Pitt-Bradford 86
ALTOONA, PA – For the first time in over a month, the Panthers suffered a second consecutive loss as they fell to the Lions in their eleventh Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contest of the season.
Five Panthers ended in double-digit scoring during the loss, with Xander Norris, Clarence Cobbins and Maki Hill all tallying 13 points a piece. Cobbins came away with a double-double, registering 11 rebounds alongside his two steals and two blocks, while Niare Poplar tallied 12 points and five rebounds and Coby Farley ended with 11 points.
Falling to 6-5 in conference play, the Panthers return to action on Wednesday when they host Alfred State at 7 p.m. for a non-league game before seeing Carlow on Saturday at 4 p.m. for another AMCC matchup.
Women’s Basketball
Penn St. Altoona 102, Pitt-Bradford 53
ALTOONA, PA – Playing in the midst of a three-game road trip, the Panthers suffered their 19th consecutive loss of the season, falling to 0-11 in AMCC play.
Amber Murak finished with a game-high 26 points and six rebounds, followed by Dalayla Alexander’s 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists.
